The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-06-19
TIE NORTHWEST.
Civilization and the Fur-Trad-
erS.

Before the treaty of 1864 with England
gave the Territory OF Oregon to the
United States, that section was, by |
agreement of the two nations, subject to |
occupancy by the citizens of both ma
tions. The Hudson's Bay Company,
with It's line of trading posts extending
far into the icy, northern wilderness,
wanted to preserve tbs country for saw
ages, so that its great profits from traf-
fic in furs would not be cut off. But the
forerunners of civilization slowly en-
croached on their forests. The othcers
of the company grew used, but not re.
conciled, to the spectacle or teams OF
bony oxen struggling through the noun
talks with empty wagons, goaded INTO
snail-like movement by the poverty
stricken emigrant with his bare headed
wife and children. There was striking
contrast between the fur-traders and
the new corners; the former believed
that they had perfect title 70 the Ter
ritory, for their company had secured
its claim from the Northwest Company,
which had bought the interests OF the
Pacific Company, a corporation claim
ing to be American; the officers were
ed1cated and punctilious business men
vel Ihey represented the interests OF the
barbaric Indian, and were slowly but
surely forced to retreat before the har-
blngers of civilization - the shock
headed, dirt begrimed, tobacco-splt-
ting, swearing OK drivers, from the
United States. ThOagh the fur-traders
we're exasperated by this immigration
which was. to spoil their trade, drive
away their game, demoralize the ma
tives and take the land for civilization
they nobiy recognized the intruders a!
fellow beings, treated Them kindly, anC
furnished Them with 1o0u and clothing
The situation of this country Is aptll
shown by the statement OF an eye wit
ness, ElWood Evans, given by Mr.. ID. ID
Bancroft in his history Of British Col
umbia: lit was a motley settlement
indeed. if we consider the caste to which
each setter belonged, or the influence
which brought him thither. Their
were the Hudson's Bay Company ant
its retainers, holding almost excluslV
possession of the country, lnsldlousl.
retarding and discouraglng' American
settlements, and destroying By its polio,
of trade every American enterprise
Here. too, were the discharged or re
tired servants of the company, locate
in the country by its permission, an
over whom it yet exercised controllin
influence, men of every variety OF colo
and nationality. Here and there WeI
Americans who had dropped out of an
remained behind the various companle
and expeditions which had been crushe
out or supplanted by the great mono
poly of trade enjoyed by the Hudson
Bay Company, of necessity entertain
ing no very kind feeling toward II
company, nor friendship for Its studle
and persistent attempts to convert Or
gon into a British province. The
came the missionary colonies with a.
nominational castles, each imbued WI
leading principle, true to themselve
vet Jealous to outyic in evidences OF So
ces,ful labor, their rivals IN similar sc
vices; soon after whom, and last OF O.
followed the American emigrants pr
per. men. women, and children, seekl
homes for themselves and their poste
ity. each in proper person asseru
faith in the American title to Gregg
and prepared to struggle against eve
effort and influence which would Wr'
the country from the United States
AS soon as the dividing line betWe
the British and United States Terrific
was established by the treaty OF 10
American settlers took possession
Oregon and the fur-traders retreal
northward, only to see IN time this
moter country slowly passing from tn
control into the hands of settlers.